Vegan Disco Fries — baked potato wedges drizzled with cashew cheese sauce and mushroom gravy — are the ultimate late night snack. They're also make for a delicious side dish. This easy recipe is vegan with a gluten-free option.
Disco Fries
A few years ago, I participated in VeganMoFo, posting food photos on Instagram to correspond with each daily prompt. One of the suggestions was to post a dish that’s close to home, something from your own country, state, or hometown. New Jersey is the land of the diner, and one of the states most beloved diner dishes is disco fries. So I made vegan disco fries and I posted the photo. The photo was popular, but to my surprise, only my fellow New Jerseyians knew what it was. That makes sense, I guess, because I didn’t know what it was before I moved back to New Jersey as a teenager, either.
What are Disco Fries?
Simply put, disco fries are French fries drenched in cheese and gravy. It’s said that they got their name because they were a favorite late-night meal of the disco crowd in the 70s. They’re similar to the Canadian poutine, but they’re made with melted cheese, rather than cheese curds. Disco fries became a favorite of mine during college. I’d work the evening shift at CVS, and after the store closed, my coworkers and I would walk across the street the Land and Sea diner and eat way too much greasy food, before heading home to do homework into the wee hours. (I have no idea how I survived the 90s on so much junk food and so little sleep.)
Vegan Disco Fries
Rather than hitting up the dinner, which I know isn't going to have many vegan options, I make a much healthier, vegan version of my beloved disco fries at home. Rather than greasy fried potatoes, I make oven baked fries. I top them with dairy-free cashew cheese, and mushroom gravy.
Recipe Notes
- If you'd like to make your fries even healthier, you can use my Veggie-Packed Vegan Cheese Sauce instead of Cashew Cheese.
- To save time, you can use store-bought vegan gravy. I like Imagine Foods Wild Mushroom Gravy.
- To make your fries gluten-free, use an all-purpose gluten-free flour in the gravy.
- Fries with gravy are a big thing here in New Jersey, too, so if you're not feeling cheesy, you can skip the cheese sauce.
How to Make Vegan Disco Fries
This recipe is really easy to make!
- First you whisk together the oil, garlic granules, salt, and pepper and then toss the potatoes in the mixture.
- You then lay the potato wedges out on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake them for 40 to 45 minutes, flipping them at the halfway point.
- While the potatoes are baking, you make the gravy. First you cook the onion for about 5 minutes.
- Then you add the garlic and mushrooms, and cook for another 5 minutes or so, until the mushrooms release their liquid.
- Next you sprinkle flour on top of the mushroom mixture and stir for a minute.
- Then you Add the vegetable stock and tamari. You bring the mixture to a boil, and then lower the heat and allow to simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- To assemble your disco fries, you place the potato wedges in a shallow dish and then drizzle on the gravy and cheese sauce. Garnish your fries with a little chopped parsley for color.
Vegan disco fries are great late night snack, and they’re also the perfect accompaniment to grilled veggie burgers. Serve them for your game day viewing parties or your Netflix movie nights.
Vegan Disco Fries
Ingredients
For the Oven Fries
- 3 large russet potatoes cut into wedges
- 2 tablespoons neutral-flavored vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Gravy
- 1 tablespoon neutral-flavored oil
- ½ cup sweet onion minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 10 ounces crimini or white button mushrooms chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon tamari
For the Assembly
- 1 cup Cashew Cheese Sauce
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
Instructions
Make the Fries
- Preheat your oven to 450° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the potato wedges in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the oil, garlic granules, salt, and pepper, and pour the mixture over the potatoes. Toss to coat the potatoes well.
- Place the potato wedges on the parchment paper, making sure none of the pieces overlap.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Carefully flip the potato wedges. Bake for another 20 – 25 minutes, until the potatoes are golden brown and crisp around the edges.
Make the Gravy
- While the potatoes are baking, heat the oil in a large pan of medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly brown and softened.
- Add the garlic, mushrooms, and sea salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms release their liquid, and it all evaporates.
- Sprinkle the flour on top of the vegetables and stir for about a minute.
- Add the vegetable stock and tamari to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then lower the heat and allow to simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Assemble the Disco Fries
- Place the potato wedges in a shallow dish or bowl. Pour the gravy over them, and then drizzle on the cashew cheese. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve hot.
More potato recipes You might enjoy include:
- Smashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic Cream
- Hasselback Potatoes
- Spinach Dip Potato Skins
- Buffalo Potato Nuggets
- Scalloped Potatoes
Jenn
I've heard of this dish, but never tried it. It looks and sounds amazing! I could eat that whole bowlful!! Yum!
Dianne
Thanks, Jenn! They are pretty tasty!
Becky Striepe
Oh my gosh, I have such fond memories of disco fries. I can't wait to make these!!
Dianne
I hope you like them, Becky!
Andrea
I grew up in Philly and spent part of every summer in New Jersey, but alas, I haven't heard of disco fires. It's never too late to learn something new! I've been going a little crazy with fries ever since I got an air fryer, and this could take the fries, which are pretty great on their own, to the next level. Got to go soak some cashews.
Dianne
I think they might be Northern NJ thing - they're really big in the diners up here. Let me know if you try the potatoes in the air fryer!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
I have never heard of disco fried either! But anything with the word disco in the title sounds amazing. LOL! I always think about how I did so many things when I was younger that there is no way I can do now! I used to party hard and go straight to an early dissection lab my senior year of college. Gross and why?! LOL
Dianne
Haha! Who knows why we did the things we did when we were young!
Susan
Potato, cheese and gravy just go so well together! These look amazing. Comfort foody goodness.
Dianne
Thank you, Susan!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I'm so glad you posted this recipe because I had never heard of Disco Fries! Looks so delicious.
Dianne
Thank you, Amy!
Mel | avirtualvegan.com
They look so good Dianne! I would not be sharing that bowl so I don't know what you put 2 forks there ;O)
Dianne
Hahah! Thanks, Mel!
Linda @ Veganosity
Great story, and I love the name of these fries. This would be a great game day snack. Thanks!
Dianne
Thank you, Linda!
Cadry
Oh, my gosh! These look SO GOOD! I'd never heard of disco fries before now, but I'm eager to become very well acquainted with them. 🙂
Dianne
Thanks, Cadry! I think you'd get along well. 🙂
The Vegan 8
This is total comfort food to me! A big bowl of fries or potatoes and is quite often a meal for me. Loaded with sauce and it's just perfect. This looks sooo good, especially with that cheese sauce smothered on top!
Dianne
Thank you, Brandi!